If you want more ferns for your hanging baskets or pots, in this article we’ll teach you how to easily propagate ferns.
Contents
How to propagate ferns?
There are mainly three ways to grow ferns from ferns:
- Division
- runners
- spores
Let’s see all these processes in detail.
Cultivation of ferns from the division
This is one of the best and fastest ways to propagate ferns, the perfect time to do this is in the fall or spring.
To divide it, water the plant well for two days, then remove the entire plant from the pot. If it’s in the ground, carefully dig around the plant until you see the roots.
Divide the root ball (roots) so as to remove the individual fronds with the roots attached to them.
Once separated, plant the sections in individual pots filled with rich potting soil. Mist the soil every morning to provide enough moisture. Keep ferns out of the way in bright, indirect light until they are established.
Be sure to water new divisions well for the first few months as they recover.
Propagate Ferns Through Stolons
You can also propagate ferns from stolons, the long, fuzzy structures that grow between fronds.
Take a U-shaped garden staple or small rock and press the runners into the ground while they are attached to the parent plant.
Keep them in the shade and provide plenty of humidity for best results. When new growth appears, which will be in 6 to 8 weeks, cut off the stolon that is attached to the parent plant.
Propagate ferns from spores
Growing ferns from spores is the most natural process, but it takes time. To do this, cut a frond with spores and store it in an envelope or between two sheets of paper to dry.
Once done, shake it to release the spores and collect them on a piece of paper. Cover the paper with another sheet and place a book on it to keep it from shifting or being exposed to air movement.
Over the next few days you should see a brown (or gold or green) powder build up on the paper under the canopy. These particles are the spores. If no spores are released, you may have picked the fronds too early or too late.
You can always experiment with picking fronds at different stages of development until you find the best time for your favorite fern.
Take a flat tray, place a well-draining growing medium in it, and sprinkle the spores on it.
Using a spray bottle, moisten it evenly and place the tray where it receives bright, indirect light.
Water the soil regularly with a sprayer to keep the growing medium slightly moist until they sprout.
Keep in mind that this is the longest process, as it can take 7-12 months for the spores to produce seedlings.
Transplant young ferns
After about a month, if all went well, you should start to see little fronds start to appear.
Once the young ferns are large enough to handle, transplant them into individual containers and cover them with plastic wrap. After a few weeks, drill a few holes in the plastic.
Every 3-5 days make more holes in the plastic. In a few weeks, the baby ferns should be ready for you to remove the plastic.
As they grow, move them to larger containers and after 6 months to a year they will be large enough to transplant.
Articles to complete this reading:
How to easily plant ferns in the outdoor garden
Fern care guide and tips
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